Surgical Services
Our practice philosophy is to always to put the welfare of our patient first and help our clients navigate through the different treatment options to find the one that is best for them and their pet.
Surgery for your Pets
Our clinic is equipped to perform both routine and advanced surgical procedures.
Routine procedures might involve de-sexing, stitching up lacerations and lump removals etc.
Advanced procedures might involve orthopaedic surgeries, fracture repairs or soft tissue surgeries such as mass removal with complicated skin flaps, eye surgeries and removal of obstructing foreign bodies etc.
Our veterinarians are trained and have sufficient experience to handle most of the surgeries in house.
For complicated cases we offer referral to veterinary surgical specialists with whom we work closely.
What to do the day before your pet is having surgery
It’s important that patients fast before any anaesthetic or sedation. The night before the scheduled surgery, ensure your pet consumes their dinner before 8:00pm. After that time, do not feed them any other food. Water may be left down overnight, but needs to be taken away early the following morning.
It’s a good idea to lock cats indoors the night before surgery so they don’t wander (or potentially catch a midnight snack).
On the day of surgery
No breakfast for your pet on the day of surgery. This is very important as it is not safe for your pet to have an anaesthetic if they have eaten. Remember to remove their water bowl first thing in the morning. Make sure you arrive at your appointment on time so our clinical nurse can assist you to complete the pre-operative administration. Being on time ensures our team can provide you and your pet our undivided attention.
For the comfort of your pet please ensure they have been toileted before admission.
Our standards of care for surgical procedures
Blood tests
Surgery and anaesthesia are very safe in the majority of cases. Because every pet is different, each patient will receive a blood test to assess kidney function and red blood cell concentration prior to administering an anaesthetic. This blood test is only a “snapshot”. In some cases, the veterinarian will express the need for a more thorough blood test if the patient is senior (over seven years old) or has pre-existing conditions.
A more detailed blood test will help us select the best anaesthetic with minimal risk levels. Where necessary, supportive therapy will be initiated to aid your pet’s recovery. A blood test also provides baseline health information for your pet which will become a part of their medical record for future reference.
This pre-anaesthetic test is extremely beneficial regardless of age, but vital for senior pets over seven years old. The veterinarian or nurse will advise on this matter prior to surgical commencement.
Please ask your nurse about the cost involved. This test is not compulsory, but highly valuable. The nurse will record your preference on the consent form at the time of admission.
Fluids
To prevent dehydration and assist the anaesthetic drugs being flushed through the system, patients will receive fluids as required throughout a surgical procedure. In some cases, fluids should be extended*, especially for elderly or debilitated pets, or those with renal (kidney) conditions. All lengthy surgical procedures will require fluids. The veterinarian or inpatient nurse will advise on this matter prior to surgical commencement.
Regardless of whether your pet is undergoing a routine or advanced surgical procedure we offer the best care and attention to detail.
After the procedure, we provide support to our clients in the management of the patient in the postoperative period and follow up regularly to ensure that our patient is doing well.